Is Marbella GPS good?

[SCChia]

Hi SCChia,

Whoa! You are a brave man! Hopefully you come back with good reviews of the unit!

cheers!

Psyiche

 

No la, I actually also did some research before I bought it. I'm the type of person go for practicality and how much the gadget can reach it's potential in the future to meet my requirement. Service is another important facror to me too. I rarely seen GPS vendor providing support on major forums in Singapore and they have a very detail instruction on their FB too.

 

I'm at airport now waiting for boarding, I kept the GPS in my hand carry to prevent it got damage from throwing my luggage here and there. I just hope it works as it's going to cost a bomb to rent a GPS in Europe. Will update you guys if it works when I got my car towards the week-end or whenever I have an acesss to Internet.

 

 

[Mivec9]

do you have the R&R POI installed?

 

Read MFM forum under Custom POI download- Expressway R&R Stop areas (Ver 5)

 

 

is this the combined Free West Malaysia Garmin Custom POI found at MFM?

 

[7007]

I am using M550 deluxe for almost 2 years.

 

Pro:

1) Lower price than others

2) Good CS support

3) Free Map Update though interval is getting longer

4) Free Rental of Oversea maps; I use Europe Map last year for my drive holidays

 

Con:

1) GPS Accuracy +- 5m (sometime overshot then ask to turn!)

2) MapKing Accuracy not that there (Lentor Ave show as Yishun XXXX) feedback long ago still not update

3) Poor Battery Life w/o power source can forget about using it

4) Can go crazy sometime so need to reset

 

For me, I will probably get Garmin in next IT show after reading better feedback from bros here..

[Shor]

I had used Garmin for the first time in Penang from a rented car company. As my car itself have a build in GPS but I flew up that time. After the trip, I'm in love with portable GPS so I go and search for a Garmin. But Garmin is too bulky for me comparing to the 880 Deluxe that I use now. So far so good, cheap and good customers service!!! But if you are brand concious, get Garmin!!!

 

 

Just wondering if anyone is using this GPS system.

 

I intend to get a Garmin 255W as recommended by one of the poster here till my friend show me his Marbella GPS. Locking is fast, seem easy to use and using MapKing map.

 

Therefore, just want to hear some review if anyone using Marbella.

Thanks.

 

[Buttwiser]

I am using a M500. which is an old model. Marbella are not able to provide me with update of new maps unless I upgrade the firmware to one with 3D features. And I have to pay for the firmware upgrade.

[Miketan80]

I bought my Garmin 1350 for $179 at this seller: www.bestbuyelec.com. Satellite lock on is almost instantaneous and I am very happy with it.

[Redstorm]

is this the combined Free West Malaysia Garmin Custom POI found at MFM?

 

 

The POI you can find in MFM is not a combined one. They have several custom POIs and you can pick whichever you prefer and download them e.g. speed trap, redlight camera, railway crossing, sharp bend, pasar malam, rest stop, etc.

Edited May 11, 2011 by Redstorm

[Sosaria]

Bought the i610 at the PC Show yesterday. Anyone has experience with this unit?

 

Personally, I find the lock-on fast enough for me, but it does not come with Traffic Update feature (got to pay slightly more for this - and do people find this useful, anyway??)

 

It runs quite hot, especially at the lower right quadrant of the GPS unit, viewed from the rear. Not sure if this is "normal" temperature, and would like to know other users' experiences with this brand/model?

[DL8698]

I bought my Garmin 1350 for $179 at this seller: www.bestbuyelec.com. Satellite lock on is almost instantaneous and I am very happy with it.

 

Thanks for pointing out this site. Prices quite good there, although the price of $179 is for a refurbished 1350, not new.

 

Also I'm not too keen on their warranty, I quote,

 

"there is no Garmin service centre in Singapore, and buyers have the option to either send overseas for service at the buyer's own cost, or exchange it with Bestbuy Electronics at a fee of $50 within the warranty period"

 

So looking at minimum $50 to exercise a warranty claim.

[MrolexB]

Thanks for pointing out this site. Prices quite good there, although the price of $179 is for a refurbished 1350, not new.

 

Also I'm not too keen on their warranty, I quote,

 

"there is no Garmin service centre in Singapore, and buyers have the option to either send overseas for service at the buyer's own cost, or exchange it with Bestbuy Electronics at a fee of $50 within the warranty period"

 

So looking at minimum $50 to exercise a warranty claim.

 

PC Show selling for $199 I think. Brand new.

[Shor]

Personally I use Marbella. But Garmin seems to be the GPS talking point. Nowadays GPS is so competitive, I think any brand will do you good depends on your budget..........the maps in the GPS is the most important! Make sure the update service is convenient before buying one! My 2 cents.

 

 

 

PC Show selling for $199 I think. Brand new.

 

[Rogersk8ter]

I went to Port Dickson days back with both Garmin and Marbella gps. Both gps updated with the latest maps.

 

Garmin MFM map wins hands down. the map of MFM is amazingly detail. On my way there and back, i follow Garmin cos i trusted it more than Marbella.

 

I feel shd pay more for a trusted GPS brand and gd map support is the way to go.

 

alternatively, buy online but no warranty.

 

[Shor]

Like what I said earlier, come to GPS is always Garmin that stands at the top. But if you had not use other brand, how you know the diff. Personally I found that Marbella not too bad. I used their "OLD" map of Thailand doing navi. Not very impress but still can bring me to the POI. Now map upgraded for free, am using the i-Go now, and I will see how effective this time. If not, I will use other brand after my trip.

 

 

 

I went to Port Dickson days back with both Garmin and Marbella gps. Both gps updated with the latest maps.

 

Garmin MFM map wins hands down. the map of MFM is amazingly detail. On my way there and back, i follow Garmin cos i trusted it more than Marbella.

 

I feel shd pay more for a trusted GPS brand and gd map support is the way to go.

 

alternatively, buy online but no warranty.

 

[DL8698]

bought M660+ Friday @ SGD$139/-

- GPS unit

- Suction mount + plastic clip for GPS unit

- AC charger (USB)

- car lighter adapter with USB cable

 

spent weekend in JB/Palm Resort

- need to switched MAP to Peninsula Malaysia

- volume not adjustable while in GPS mode

- GPS directed to incorrect turns towards Palm Resort

- GPS directed to unnecessary turns out of Pam Resort/Senai Airport

- GPS did not give correct route to/from a mall 10minutes drive from Palm resort...

 

 

Used Garmin 1460 for Malacca trip last year, more user-friendly I must say.

 

Did you buy this GPS at a PC Show for this price? I'm thinking of buying this unit but not sure to go to get at the current PC Show or maybe I can buy from any store for same price. PC Shows are always so crowded and it's quite hard to take a look see at the item before deciding to buy or not.

 

As for the last few comments about the GPS giving wrong (stupid?) directions, it happens with Garmin too.

 

EG, when I was in States for holiday, using a rented Garmin GPS, as I was exiting the car park of my motel, the GPS directed me to first, turn right (remember that they drive on the wrong side of the road in the States), make a U Turn and drive back down the same road. In fact, I could just turn left as I exited the car park!

 

As I got more familiar with the roads, I just ignored the GPS whenever it gave me ridiculous longer routes when I knew I could just take a shorter route. This happened regardless of whether I chose "faster time", or "shorter route" or whatever.

 

Recently, using a borrowed Garmin nuvi 255W, I tried it out here in Singapore before taking it for a holiday overseas. I stay next to the pie at the East, set my destination for Mt Alvernia hospital. I know the fastest or even shortest route should be down the PIE till Upper Thomson turnoff, and so on. But, the moment I enterrd the PIE, the GPS kept telling me to turn off the PIE and head south, presumeably towards the ECP. (I forgot I could have previewed the entire journey to see where it wanted me to go)

 

I just ignored all the directions to turn off the PIE and the GPS finally stopped telling to turn off the PIE when I turned off the PIE into Upper Thomson Rd. Guess it thought it had won, since I was finally obeying its instruction to turn off the pie.

[DL8698]

I want to find out if I buy the M660 + Plus at PC show ($139) or at Courts Megastore (169$), do I have to go to Makagps at Alexandra to get my Sin/Mal maps? I understand I have to go there for the FOC loan maps for other countries, but are the Sin/Mal already preloaded on the 4gb sd card that comes with the unit when I buy it?

[Mivec9]

Get it at pc show - chk that m660 u r buying is from authorised dealer to enjoy latest map/loan other country. $139 is really a good buy!

[Raymondism]

dun understand why anyone would need to use GPS in singapore...

 

[Shor]

Bro, you must understand this. Some people road directions very poor one. Like my wifey, she only knows how to drive to work and back home. But when you want her to go anywhere in Singapore, she got no problem when a GPS is with her. It's useful bro! My 2 cents worth.

 

 

 

 

 

dun understand why anyone would need to use GPS in singapore...